Rifle-loader.



PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

E. E. MORLAN.

RIFLE LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4| 1906.

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Fig. 3 is a plan view of the loader.

ERNEST EARLE MORLAN, OF GARDEN CITY, MISSOURI.

RIFLE-LOADER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907'.

Application led September 4; 1906- Serial No. 333.193.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEsT EARLE Mon- LAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Garden City, in the county of Cass and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rifle-Loaders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a loader for rifles; and my object is to provide a simple device of this character which will enable a sportsman to quickly load a single shot rifie.

The essential features of the invention cons'st of a magazine for carrying a supply of cartridges, a detent at the forward portion of the magazine for preventing the cartridges from accidentally falling therefrom, and a plunger for forcing the foremost cartridge into the cartridge-chamber of the rifle.

The advantages derived from the use of my device are, iirst, that it affords a more convenient means of carrying the cartridges than a box or pocket second, it prevents the lubricant from being rubbed off the bullets; third, it will hold a supply of cartridges suflicient to last through an ordinary days shooting, and fourth, the rifle may be quickly loaded in the coldest weather, without removing the gloves from the hands.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing which illustrates the invention Figure 1. represents a broken side elevation of my device in position for loading a rifle. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line IV IV of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of loader, showing the same provided with a :evolving magazine. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 7 is a crosssection taken on line VII VII of Fig. 5.

In said drawing, 1. designates a single shot rie.

2. designates my loader.

3. designates the magazine of the loader, adapted to receive a supply o cartridges which are inserted through the rear end thereof. 4. designates a cap for closing said rear end.

5. designates the forward end of the magazine which ii curved and terminates in a beveled end 6, adapted to engage the rear end of the cartridge-chamber of the rifle, and thus assist in supporting and steadying the loader ,while the foremost cartridge is being forced into the cartridge-chamber.

7 designates a detent secured to the forward portion of the magazine and provided with a hooked-end 8, which extends through an opening in the magazine and engages the rim of the foremost cartridge to retain the same in magazine. The inner edge of the hook-end 8, is curved to snugly fit the body of the cartridge-shell and thus obtain a reliable grip thereon.

9 designates a hollow shaft secured to the magazine and provided with a plunger 10., extending therethrough.

11. designates a transverse pin, extending through the plunger and shaft 9, for the purpose of holding the former in the latter, said pin being slidably arranged in slots 12, in the opposite sides of the shaft. Forward end 13, of plunger 10, is ,curved downwardly and operates in a slot 14., in the curved portion of the magazine said Vplunger being downwardly bent, in order to engage the rear end of the cartridge, so that it may force the same into the cartridge chamber. The rear end of the plunger is provided with a thumb piece 15., which affords a convenient abutment for the thumb when forcing the plunger forward.

16 designates an expansion spring, einbracing the plunger and bearing at its opposite ends against pin 11. and the forward end of shaft 9, for the purpose of normally holding said plunger in its rearmost position, as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now to the modified. form shown in Figs. 5. to 7. inclusive, the magazine consists of a plurality of tubes 3a and is rotatably mounted upon the centrally-disposed shaft 9, so that each of the cartridge-containing tubes may be successively brought into co-incidence with the discharge tube 5a. Tube 5d is fixed to a circular head 17., which closes the forward ends of all the tubes 3a except that one registering with tube 5a, the headhaving an opening 18., through which communication is established with tube 5a. The cartridges are inserted through the rear terminal of tubes 3a, which are then closed by a cap-nut 19., engaging the rear threaded end of shaft 9u.

10a designates a plunger extending through shaft 9 and having a downwardly curved forward end 13a arranged to operate in slot 14?, for the purpose of engaging and forcing the foremost cartridge into the cartridgechamber.

7a designates a detent arranged to engage the rim of the foremost cartridge to prevent the same from falling from tube 5a.

11a designates a pin extending trans-I versely through plunger 1()a and shaft 9a, which latter is provided with slots 12EL to permit the pin to move forwardly with the plunger.

16a designates an expansion spring, embracing the plunger, and bearing at its ends against head 17 and pin 11u. I-Iead 1 7 is provided with a marginal flange 20., overlapping the forward ends of tubes 3a and having a notch 21, registering with the rear terminal of tube 5a, which acts as an indicator in determining how far the magazine should be turned. For instance, after one of thetubes 3 has been emptied of its supply of cartridges, the magazine is revolved until the following tube registers with the notch, when, of course, it will be in alinement with tube 5hL and opening 18.

y By curving the discharge end ofthe magazine it may be readily inserted in that style of rifle which does not break at the breech, and by locating the detent sufficiently forward to let the bullet of the foremost cartridge protrude, said bullet may be readily inserted in the cartridge-chamber 'and thus guide the cartridge into said chamber.

Having thus described the invention,l what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the character described, consisting of a magazine for holding a supply of cartridges, having a curved and slotted discharge end, means near said discharge end for preventing the cartridges from accidentally falling therethrough, and means for forcing the foremost cartridge into the cartridge-chamber of a rifie saidmeans having a curved forward end arranged in the slotted discharge end, for the purpose described.

2. A device of the character described consisting of a magazine for holding a supply of cartridges and having a slotted discharge end, means near said discharge end for preventing the cartridges from accidentally falling therethrough, a plunger having -a curved forward end in the slotted discharge end for forcing the foremost cartridge into the cartridge-chamber of a riie, and resilient means for retracting said plunger.

3. A device of the character described, consisting of a hollow shaft, a magazine consisting 'of a plurality of tubes rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a discharge tube with which themagazine tubes are adapted to successively `register, means for holding the foremost cartridge in the discharge tube, a plunger extending through the hollow shaft and adapted to engage the foremost cartridge, and a spring for retracting said plunger.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the` presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST EARLE MORLAN.

Vitnesses:

J. P. Bisi-IOP, R. D. RAMEY. 

